Safe backcountry travel requires training and experience. You control your own risk by choosing where, when and how you travel.

The Bottom Line

The avalanche danger is MODERATE in the Alpine today. 2’ slabs could be triggered in steep terrain. These slabs have the potential to propagate across slopes and be large enough to carry, injure or bury a person.

The danger is LOW at Treeline, where a crust caps the surface and avalanches are unlikely.

Primary Concern

A long dry spell back in late January created a layer of weak faceted snow that has now been buried by several storms. These storms produced several slabs that now average 2 feet in thickness in the Alpine. The combination of slab over weak layer can be found consistently above 2,500’. The two areas that are most unstable are:

Steep terrain between 2,500-3,000’. The slab/weak layer combo is sitting on a firm crust in this elevation band. The slab is thinner in this lower half of the Alpine, making it easier to impact the weak layer. Parties continue to report collapsing in this elevation band and test results point to continued unstable snow in this zone.

Steep terrain with a Southerly component. A stout sun crust formed over 10 days ago in this terrain and has slabs in the 1 foot range sitting on it. We have seen sporadic natural activity in this type of terrain recently and mainly on the periphery of the forecast area.

While it has been 7 days since the last loading event, the nature of a persistent weak layer is that is can remain active for a long time. If you’re considering getting into committing terrain keep in mind that you may find the most unstable snow well below starting zones. Because of this it will be important to pick lower angle terrain (35 degrees or less) and slopes that provide escape options along the way.

Secondary Concern

A few inches of new snow will fall by the evening hours in the higher elevations. Very shallow slabs in the 6” range will form and be sensitive to human triggers in steep (40 degrees and over) terrain. This is not a significant hazard but is worth keeping in mind if you are travelling above terrain traps such as cliffs, gullies, or trees.

Mountain Weather

The past 24 hours brought mild temperatures and increasing cloudiness to the area. Winds were light out of the East and no new precipitation fell.

Today expect cloudy skies with light snow in the afternoon. Snow accumulation will be light, in the 1-2” range. Temperatures will be mild with ridgetops climbing into the high 20s F and a rain/snow line around 1,000’. Ridgetop winds will be out of the East at 5-10 mph.

The thin band of moisture that will deliver a quick shot of snow will be replaced by high pressure by Sunday morning. A large low pressure system will move across the Bering Sea and connect with a low in the North Pacific in the early part of next week, bringing the next chance for precipitation on Tues night.

PRECIPITATION 24-hour data (6am - 6am)

Temp Avg (F)

Snow (in)

Water (in)

Snow Depth (in)

Center Ridge (1880')

33

0

0

40

Summit Lake (1400')

29

0

0

6

Alyeska Mid (1700')

27

0

0

23

RIDGETOP 24-hour data (6am - 6am)

Temp Avg (F)

Wind Dir

Wind Avg (mph)

Wind Gust (mph)

Sunburst (3812')

30

E

7

26

Seattle Ridge(2400')

31

NW

13

28

This is a general backcountry avalanche advisory issued for Turnagain Arm with Turnagain Pass as the core advisory area (this advisory does not apply to highways, railroads, or operating ski areas).

Riding status is not associated with avalanche danger. An area will be open to motorized use in accordance to the Forest Management Plan when snow coverage is adequate to protect underlying vegetation. Backcountry hazards including avalanche hazard are always present regardless of the open status of motorized use areas.

(Updated: May 16, 2017 )

AREA

STATUS

WEATHER AND RIDING CONDITIONS

Glacier District

Johnson Pass:

Closed

Placer River:

Closed

Skookum Drainage:

Closed

Turnagain Pass:

Closed

Thanks all for a safe and fun season on the Chugach NF! Stay tuned for the 2017/18 season. #playsafe #snowtosealevel

Twentymile:

Closed

Seward District

Carter Lake:

Closed

Lost Lake Trail:

Closed

Primrose Trail:

Closed

Resurrection Pass Trail:

Closed

Resurrection Pass trail will be open to snowmachine use during the 2017/18 winter season.

Snug Harbor:

Closed

South Fork Snow River Corridor:

Closed

Summit Lake:

Closed

Subscribe to the Turnagain Area Avalanche Advisory:

The information in this advisory is from the U.S. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This advisory describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.
This advisory provided by the Chugach National Forest, in partnership with Friends of the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center.